Cordyline plant named ‘Zumba’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Cordyline  plant named ‘Zumba’ that is characterized by leaves that are linear in shape, outwardly arching and pink in color with dark red margins.

Botanical classification: Cordyline australis.

Variety denomination: ‘Zumba’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cordyline australis and is hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Zumba’. The new Cordyline is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Kihikihi, Waikato, New Zealand. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Cordyline cultivars with attractive foliage colors. ‘Zumba’ originated from a crossing in 2006 of the female or seed parent Cordyline ‘Red Fountain’ (not patented) and the male or pollen parent Cordyline ‘Albertii’ (not patented). The resulting seeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘Zumba’ was selected by the inventor in the 2010 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in Kihikihi, Waikato, New Zealand. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Zumba’ first occurred by tissue culture in 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Cordyline ‘Zumba’ is distinguished from other known varieties of Cordyline, by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Cordyline ‘Zumba’ exhibits leaves that are outwardly arching.     -   2. Cordyline ‘Zumba’ exhibits linear shaped leaves     -   3. Cordyline ‘Zumba’ exhibits leaves that are pink with dark red         margins.

The closest comparison cultivars are the parent plants Cordyline ‘Red Fountain’ and Cordyline ‘Albertii’. ‘Zumba’ is distinguishable from the female parent ‘Red Fountain’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Zumba’ exhibits outwardly arching leaves. The leaves of ‘Red         Fountain’ are less arching and more upright.     -   2. ‘Zumba’ exhibits leaves that are pink with dark red margins.         The leaves of ‘Red Fountain’ are all red.

‘Zumba’ is distinguishable from the male parent ‘Albertii’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Zumba’ exhibits outwardly arching leaves. The leaves of         ‘Albertii’ are upright.     -   2. ‘Zumba’ exhibits leaves that are pink with dark red margins.         The leaves of ‘Albertii’ are green with yellow margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photograph illustrates the distinguishing characteristics of the new cultivar ‘Zumba’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 2 year old plant.

All photographs are taken using conventional photographic techniques and although foliage colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance, they are as accurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the Cordyline cultivar named ‘Zumba’. Data was collected in Kihikihi, Waikato, New Zealand from 2 year old plants. The plants were grown outdoors in 17 cm. diameter containers. The time of year was Winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The temperatures ranged from 2 to 15 degrees Centigrade during the day and from −2 to 10 degrees Centigrade at night. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, without however, any difference in genotype. Color determinations are in accordance with The 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification: Cordyline australis ‘Zumba’. -   Common name: Cabbage Tree. -   Parentage: ‘Zumba’ resulted from the crossing of the female or seed     parent Cordyline ‘Red Fountain’ and the male or pollen parent     Cordyline ‘Albertii’. -   Type: Ornamental perennial. -   Container size: 17 cm. diameter. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Overall shape: Upright to semi-erect, broadly inverted triangle. -   Habit: Outwardly arching. -   Height: Average 0.9 m. in height. -   Spread: Average 0.8 m. in width. -   Low temperature tolerance: −5 degrees Centigrade. -   High temperature tolerance: 30 degrees Centigrade. -   Propagation method: Tissue culture. -   Time to initiate roots: 6 months. -   Time to produce a rooted liner: 2 months. -   Crop time: 14 months. -   Vigor: Moderate. -   Root system: Fibrous. -   Root color: N155A. -   Stem:     -   -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Dimensions.—Average 3.5 cm. in diameter and 4.9 cm. in             length.         -   Color.—200B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Orientation.—Initially erect then outwardly arching.         -   Average number of leaves per plant.—58.         -   Compound or single.—Single.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaf shape.—Linear.         -   Leaf dimensions.—Average 50 cm. in length and 20 mm. in             width.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf texture: (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Leaf glossiness: (both surfaces).—Slightly glossy.         -   Leaf pubescence.—Absent.         -   Leaf color of young leaves (upper surface).—61B, margins             59B.         -   Leaf color of young leaves (lower surface).—61B, margins             59B.         -   Leaf color of mature leaves (upper surface).—61B, margins             59B.         -   Leaf color of mature leaves (lower surface).—61B, margins             59B.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Pinching.—Removal of young plant tips is not required.         -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.         -   Leaf fragrance.—Absent. -   Flower production: No flowers have been produced by ‘Zumba’ to date. -   Fruit and seed production: Has not been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Cordyline plant named ‘Zumba’ as described and illustrated. 